Sydney Wilson matched her season high with 21 points as Tusculum College rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Catawba College 71-68 in a South Atlantic Conference Women's basketball matchup Monday night at Pioneer Arena.

Kasey Johnson and Maelyn Head each had 16 points apiece for the Pioneers (8-7, 6-6 SAC), who moved into sole possession of seventh place in the conference with the victory over the Indians (8-10, 5-7 SAC). Monday's win also gave Tusculum a sweep of the season series from Catawba.

Wilson shot 9-for-16 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, and added five assists, two blocks and four steals for the Pioneers. Wilson, who also had 21 points in a 74-55 win at Queens on Jan. 16, is averaging 15.8 points per game over the last four contests for Tusculum.

Head, who missed four games due to injury, came back to the lineup to shoot 4-for-9 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and go 6-for-6 from the foul line for the Pioneers. Johnson reached double figures for the sixth time in the last seven games after going 7-for-11 from the floor while adding six rebounds in 26 minutes of action.

Shynese Whitener also reached double figures for the 14th time in 15 games this season with 10 points, to go along with nine rebounds and a pair of steals. Whitener hit a free throw with 6.8 seconds left to give the Pioneers a three-point lead, then grabbed the rebound off a missed three-point attempt from the Indians' Bri Johnson as time expired.

Terri Rogers led the Indians (8-10, 5-7 SAC) with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 11-for-16 shooting from the field. However, Catawba went just 7-for-15 from the foul line and shot 37.1 percent (13-for-35) from the field in the second half after connecting on 53.6 percent (15-for-28) in the opening 20 minutes.

There were four ties and four lead changes in the opening quarter, which saw neither team lead by more than two points until a Wilson jumper gave the Pioneers a 15-11 lead with 1:45 left in the period. Tusculum led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter behind eight points from Wilson, while Rogers had eight to pace Catawba.

The Pioneers led by as many as six points in the second quarter, and held a 24-21 lead after two free throws from Head with 6:39 left in the first half. However, the Indians answered with a 16-2 run that featured field goals from five different players to take a 37-26 lead with 1:52 left in the half.

Catawba led 39-28 at halftime thanks to 16 points and seven rebounds from Rogers and eight points off the bench by Jada Huntley. Wilson led the Pioneers with 10 points in the first half, with Johnson adding six on 3-for-4 shooting from the floor.

The Pioneers opened the second half with a 10-0 run that included five points from Wilson and a three-pointer by Head that cut the margin to 39-38 with 7:17 left in the third period. A foul shot by Whitener with 4:31 left in the period tied the game at 43-43, followed by a basket by Head that pushed the Pioneers back on top 45-43. Catawba regained the lead in the latter stages of the quarter, but Whitener drilled a jumper just before the buzzer to sent the Pioneers into the fourth period trailing 53-52.

Tusculum went up 60-57 on two more free throws by Head with 6:41 to play, but a three-pointer by Johnson knotted the score at 60-60 with 6:03 left. However, a layup by Whitener and a three-pointer by Head gave the Pioneers a 65-60 lead with 5:03 remaining. Tusculum led by as many as six points before baskets by Serena Brown and Huntley cut the margin to 70-68 with 1:39 to go.

After an exchange of missed shots, the Indians had a chance to tie the game as Huntley came up with a steal with 22 seconds left. However, while on a clear break to the hoop, she double-dribbled and the ball was turned back over to the Pioneers. Whitener made one out of two from the line with 6.8 seconds on the clock, before the tying attempt by Catawba's Johnson was off the mark.

Huntley finished the game with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 25 minutes off the bench for Catawba, while Johnson was the third player in double figures for the Indians with 12 points to go along with four boards. Zhaquondalee Greer finished the night with just five points, but added five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals for Catawba.

Kristen McMillion led all players with 12 rebounds for the Pioneers, including an offensive board with 2:20 to go that she converted into a putback. As a team, Tusculum had 11 second-chance points while Catawba finished with 12.

The Indians finished with a slight 39-38 advantage in rebounding, and committed 17 turnovers to 12 for the Pioneers. Tusculum turned the 17 Catawba turnovers into 24 points, while the Indians had 17 points off the Pioneer miscues. Catawba finished with a 42-30 advantage on points in the paint thanks to Rogers, while Tusculum went 4-for-9 from three-point range compared to 5-for-16 for the Indians.

Tusculum will be on the road Wednesday night for a game at Brevard. The Pioneers beat the Tornados 63-45 in Greeneville on Nov. 24 behind 16 points from Whitener. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.